Quote:
Originally Posted by Igzy
Let me make the point more clearly. If someone claims to be an apostle, ask him to tell you his track record of signs and miracles. Both Jesus and Paul did this (Luke 7:22-23; 2 Cor 12:12). If he can't produce one, say thank you very much but I'm not convinced you are what you claim to be.
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Ohio, if you found my characterizations of your argument as "extremely degrading", I apologize. I didn't think the argument was very strong; forgive me if I was unduly dismissive of it, and you.
I agree with Igzy; you have Peter speaking in Acts chapter 2,verse 22“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know."
You have Paul's "marks of an apostle" in 2 Corinthians 12.
You have Hebrews chapter 2:4 saying that the eyewitnesses of Jesus also were accompanied by signs, wonders and miracles.
Then suddenly from one verse, 2 Timothy 4:20, we have the end of works of power? Just like that? Somehow God just turned off the spigot and we found ourselves with apostles, but minus works? I do not think so.
I was poking fun; I was trying to include all of us. I think we all set up arguments in our minds of what makes sense, of "the way things are", and then we cut and paste the incoming data (like the Bible) to fit our concepts. I tried to be clear that we all do this. I apologize if in including you & ZNP (because I include everyone) in such a characterization it seems insulting or demeaning.
But Peter and the author of Hebrews and Paul all said that God's demonstration of works of power was worth our consideration. To just dismiss all that evidence without some basis beyond 2 Tim 4:20 seems rather presumptive.